[Student Profile]
[Prompt & Essay]
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
“Look, [name],” said my grandma. “This is the final fold.” She pulled on the tail of the paper crane. With wide eyes, I watched as its wings flapped, as if by magic. Quickly mimicking my grandma’s fold, I made the first of my many childhood origami creations. The next day, I eagerly shared my grandma’s origami lesson with my classmates, demonstrating the precise creases of paper to create the crane. “This is the final fold,” I told my classmates, echoing the words of my grandma. I was filled with joy as I watched my classmates’ creations unfold under my instruction.
I find myself in a similar situation as I discuss my project with my mentor at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). “Instead of having multiple different conversations, I suggest only having one. Since it’s a demonstration, all the analytics can go on one screen.” He draws the application layout on a whiteboard. I nod and gesture with my hands, “So then, here would be the conversation bot and over here are the analytics of the conversation.”
I had applied and graciously been admitted as an intern at the APL. There, I found a mentor to guide me through real-world applications of computer science. My mentor supported me through my projects and endeavors, providing extensive resources and advice. His feedback and suggestions to my ideas and progress was crucial in gaining technical knowledge; I advanced my understanding of web development, machine learning (a type of artificial intelligence), and natural language processing (how computers analyze human language). In this collaborative environment, we discussed ideas to improve my project and solutions to overcome challenges.
My internship has taught me to value such challenges; the steps in between are essential to the success of the final product. Overcoming a plethora of technical challenges, like ensuring correct calculations for the application’s analytics, I was able to fulfill the overall goal of my project: developing a conversation bot with analytics on the conversation. The challenges I persisted through not only excite me to learn more, but also drive my desire to tackle increasingly complex problems. Through my enjoyment of these intermediate progressions, my ideas blossom into reality.
Chosen for the APL student showcase in Spring 2020, I was delighted to virtually present what I’d created through my internship to fellow interns, researchers, and teachers. I explained the steps I took to achieve my project and demonstrated the result; I broke down my project’s complexities, illustrating how all the different parts were interconnected. This medium of communication in which I related what I’ve learned and created to other individuals has given me a purpose to continue learning, creating, and engaging with my community. In sharing my ideas and passions, I establish meaningful connections between myself and others.
My grandma’s origami lesson has stayed with me to this day, but I realize it has taught me more than how to fold a paper crane. As I’ve transitioned from origami cranes to complex artificial intelligence demonstrations, I recognize that my childhood origami experience has shaped my values and principles to continue learning, creating, and sharing. In seeking such opportunities, I strive to bring forth unique ideas to enhance our community. Though I won’t know what my final creation will be, I will carry these values as I encounter new environments and experiences. Like a paper crane, these folds in my life will fly me to new heights. (570)